South West one

Thornbury 14

Okehampton 29

AFTER recent indifferent away form, the result was the most important factor taken from this solid, if unspectacular Okehampton victory.

The Okes took on a Thornbury side struggling of late with both injuries and results and the visitors had to grind out a hard fought victory.

Starting down the slope on the hosts’ narrow, inclined pitch, the Okes were soon striving for an early score. After two minutes Kieran Lee slotted a straightforward penalty to give the visitors an early three point advantage.

The next period was evenly contested, although early signs indicated an Okes’ set scrum superiority. There was little sign of danger when Thornbury moved the ball right in midfield, but an outside break saw the Okes scrambling defence just prevent a corner try. The home side’s tails were up though, and they continued to keep ball and drive tight around the fringes deep within the Okes’ five yard line. Eventually the pressure told and the hosts drove over near the uprights to take the lead, 7-3 up after a scrappy conversion via the crossbar. It was already evident that the Okes were not fully getting to grips with the slope, as they continued to utilise running from their own half as their preferred exit strategy.

Entering the second quarter the Okes centre pairing of Armitage and Palmer started to probe with increasing success. Improved Okes’ cohesion and ball retention started to reap rewards, and concerted pressure brought forth an attacking five metre scrum, which, after another penalty, eventually saw the Oke pack drive over the whitewash, allowing skipper and number eight Tom McGrattan to ground the five pointer. Five became seven with Lee’s extras, and it now stood at 10-7 after 25 minutes. The visitors were in the midst of a decent spell and Kieran Lee looked increasingly threatening down the left flank. Okes continued to lurk ominously in the Thorn’s half.

On 31 minutes the hosts tried to move the ball in their own 22 yard line, but pressure forced a loose pass which was expertly gobbled up by Okes’ centre Rhys Palmer. A superb ‘Slade-Like’ pick up allowed the potent midfielder to gather and cross for a second try to further extend the Oke’s lead. The conversion bounced back off an upright but at 15-7 the Okes were establishing a decent cushion. There was then an extended hiatus as the hosts’ winger received lengthy treatment and was forced to leave the field. Okehampton began to concede penalties, and two were punted into the corner as the home side took their turn to apply more close range pressure. Oke replacement prop Jonny King then saw yellow and the Okes were forced to reshuffle as Thornbury continued to hammer away.

A home score seemed inevitable but stout Okes defence forced a turnover. This became a crucial turning point in the match as the visitors, despite now playing without a left winger, decided to spin the ball left from under their own sticks. Bevon Armitage and Gareth Espin combined well to take play deep into home territory before they finally applied the finishing touches via a Rob Dugard rumble. Unstoppable from a couple of yards, the Okes tight-head ploughed over right on the interval for a crucial score. Fly half Dan Fogerty potted the conversion to make the scoreline pleasant reading for the Okes, 22-7 up at the break.

Up the gradient second half, the Okes maintained their advantage whilst still a man down without really threatening to extend it. Several half breaks then ensued but the Okes were not quick enough to get forwards to the breakdown. Thornbury responded and once more camped near the Okes’ line; more scrambling defence and a superb tackle/turnover from scrum half Joey Bruce saved a certain score as the match hit the 60-minute mark. The Okes cleared their lines and for the next few minutes worked their way steadily upfield, until a high tackle gave them the chance to punt the ball into the top left corner.

The quirkiness of the terrain in this area of the pitch saw the slope back in the Okes favour as they threw into the lineout, attempting a catch and drive of their own. A clean take followed by a powerful maroon and amber maul forced the hosts back over their try line for the Okes’ fourth and bonus point yielding try. Blindside flanker Paul Lawrence emerged grasping the ball gleefully from the melee, and his try was converted by Kieran Lee to make the lead a comfortable one at 29-7 with ten minutes left. Five minutes later and another Oke score looked likely, as more turnovers combined with incisive breaks from Karl Pearce and Rob Fishleigh took play back into the hosts’ 22. This time it was the home side who regained possession though and counter attacked from their own line. Good hands and support lines saw the hosts sweep downfield, eventually setting free full back Richardson who dived over for the try of the match. Scant consolation for the hosts, but nothing more that their efforts throughout deserved.

The final whistle soon arrived and the Okes’ efficient performance had gleaned another valuable five pointer on the road.

The Okes produced patches of promise without ever hitting top gear but are still three points clear at the top of South West one.